Rapid Reactions: Panthers Feast on Dallas, Improve to 11-0

WHAT IT MEANS

"Dear America,

We're the Carolina Panthers, and even though you haven't been paying much attention to us, we're pretty darn good."

In between turkey and naps, the nation couldn't help but notice what the Panthers did in their Thanksgiving debut. In front of their largest viewing audience since the 2003 Super Bowl, they destroyed Dallas, 33-14. It wasn't even that close.

Safety Kurt Coleman set the tone on the third play of the game when he turned a Tony Romo interception into a touchdown. The Cowboys quarterback reinjured the collarbone that forced him to miss seven games when linebacker Thomas Davis sacked him on the final play of the third quarter. By then, the Panthers already had the game well in hand.

The win is Carolina's 15th straight in the regular-season and assures they'll go a whole calendar year without losing in the regular season. Their last non-playoff loss was against the Vikings on Nov. 30 last year.

Next up for the Panthers is a trip to New Orleans on Dec. 6. That game, which was flexed to 4:25, could be a division-clincher. If the Falcons lose either of their next two, Carolina could lock up the NFC South with a win against the Saints.

Panthers fans have long craved respect. Anyone who overlooks them after what they did to America's Team this holiday is simply foolish.